Beat & Rhythm
What is a steady beat?
The constant pulse in music.
What is choreography?
Planned or arranged dance and movement.
Name one of the four instrument families.
Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion.
True or false: Your body can be a musical instrument.
True.
What is a composition?
Music that someone creates and writes.
Name three tempo words we’ve learned.
Largo, Moderato, Allegro.
True or false: Choreography can match the beat of a song.
True.
What family does the violin belong to?
Strings.
What is body percussion?
Making music using parts of your body like clapping, snapping, stomping.
What does it mean to improvise?
To make up music on the spot.
What’s the difference between beat and rhythm?
Beat is steady; rhythm is the pattern of sounds and silences.
What do we use to remember choreography?
Counts, like 5-6-7-8.
What family does the trumpet belong to?
Brass.
Name three sounds your body can make in body percussion.
Clap, stomp, snap, pat, etc.
What are the three parts of a musical story?
Beginning, middle, end
What body percussion pattern did we use in “Keep the Beat”? (Show me!)
Pat, clap, snap, clap!
Name one thing that helps a group stay together in choreography.
Practicing, listening to the beat, watching each other, or staying in formation.
What’s one percussion instrument we used in class?
Drum, boomwhacker, or orff.
How can movement show emotions?
Movements changed based on the emotion—for example, fast and bouncy for happy, slow and heavy for sad, sharp for angry.
What do musicians use to help them tell a story through music?
Dynamics, tempo, rhythm, instruments, and expression.
If a song is allegro, how would you move?
Quickly or with fast steps.
What is one way to make choreography more exciting?
Levels (high/low), speed changes, facing different directions, or using sharp vs. smooth movement.
What is one way you can describe how an instrument is played?
Plucked, blown, hit, or bowed.
Question: Create a short movement sequence that matches a piece of music the teaching artist plays. Your group must show changes in tempo, dynamics, and emotion using only your bodies—no sounds. Be ready to explain how your movement reflects the music.
Great job!
Question: Your band just got a surprise mission! Create a short original song or musical story using classroom instruments. It must have a beginning, middle, and end, and include one moment of improvisation. Be prepared to perform it and explain your choices.
Great job!